Despite what constituents outside of Washington might think, members of Congress are underpaid, a House Legislative Branch appropriator suggested Thursday.

Virginia Democrat James P. Moran said he plans to highlight the injustice by introducing an amendment to the Legislative Branch bill during its full committee markup, and at floor consideration of the bill. Moran made the comments while the bill that funds members’ $174,000 salaries was being marked up in the Legislative Branch subcommittee.

“I think the American people should know that the members of Congress are underpaid,” Moran told CQ Roll Call. “I understand that it’s widely felt that they underperform, but the fact is that this is the board of directors for the largest economic entity in the world.”

The senior appropriator pointed out that some members have taken to living out of their offices to save money, while others have “small little apartment units” that make it impossible to spend the time they should with their families.

Most state legislatures provide their members with a per diem allowance, Moran argues, so the federal government should do the same.

The Legislative Branch appropriations bill introduced by Republicans on Wednesday aims to show the chamber’s commitment to austerity by holding spending at current levels. It would continue a freeze on lawmaker salaries that has been in place since 2010.

As for a dollar amount, Moran hasn’t yet thought that through. He said it would probably be consistent with what the federal government provides to other employees.

According to the Congressional Research Service, members began receiving a $6 per diem in 1789. The rate was eventually raised to $8 and remained there until 1856, when members began to receive annual salaries.

Moran assumes the amendment will not pass, admitting “this is wholly quixotic,” but he may bring it up on the House floor to garner attention.

“Our pay has been frozen for three years and we’re planning on freezing it a fourth year. … A lot of members can’t even afford to live decently in Washington,” he said.

Quote:
The 112th Congress, which came to a close last week, was the least productive on record.
Together, the House and Senate enacted the fewest laws, considered the fewest bills and held the lowest number of formal negotiations between them

Despite what constituents outside of Washington might think, members of Congress are underpaid, a House Legislative Branch appropriator suggested Thursday.

Virginia Democrat James P. Moran said he plans to highlight the injustice by introducing an amendment to the Legislative Branch bill during its full committee markup, and at floor consideration of the bill. Moran made the comments while the bill that funds members’ $174,000 salaries was being marked up in the Legislative Branch subcommittee.

“I think the American people should know that the members of Congress are underpaid,” Moran told CQ Roll Call. “I understand that it’s widely felt that they underperform, but the fact is that this is the board of directors for the largest economic entity in the world.”

The senior appropriator pointed out that some members have taken to living out of their offices to save money, while others have “small little apartment units” that make it impossible to spend the time they should with their families.

Most state legislatures provide their members with a per diem allowance, Moran argues, so the federal government should do the same.

The Legislative Branch appropriations bill introduced by Republicans on Wednesday aims to show the chamber’s commitment to austerity by holding spending at current levels. It would continue a freeze on lawmaker salaries that has been in place since 2010.

As for a dollar amount, Moran hasn’t yet thought that through. He said it would probably be consistent with what the federal government provides to other employees.

According to the Congressional Research Service, members began receiving a $6 per diem in 1789. The rate was eventually raised to $8 and remained there until 1856, when members began to receive annual salaries.

Moran assumes the amendment will not pass, admitting “this is wholly quixotic,” but he may bring it up on the House floor to garner attention.

“Our pay has been frozen for three years and we’re planning on freezing it a fourth year. … A lot of members can’t even afford to live decently in Washington,” he said.

Different motives for this Skuz-Monkey.

In 1999, Moran drew attention for taking personal loans from a friend who was a drug-company lobbyist. He got another loan three years later from the co-founder of America Online. The Washington Post reported in 2002 that Moran received favorable terms on a home-refinancing package from MBNA as he backed a bankruptcy reform bill supported by the credit card industry. Moran was not charged with wrongdoing in those instances.

The congressman also has made controversial statements about the Middle East. In 2003, he told attendees at an antiwar forum, “If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq, we would not be doing this.” He also said that Jewish leaders were “influential enough” that they could change the course of U.S. policy.

Moran eventually apologized for those remarks, which helped fuel his strongest primary challenge: the 2004 bid by lawyer Andrew Rosenberg. Moran won by 59 percent to 41 percent.

In 1995, Moran got in a shoving match on the House floor with then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.) during an argument over Cunningham’s allegation that Moran had “turned his back” on Operation Desert Storm. (Moran voted against authorizing force in the Persian Gulf War in 1991.)

In 1999, his second wife — Moran has divorced three times — called police after a domestic dispute, although no charges were filed. The next year, Moran got into a heated argument with an 8-year-old boy whom Moran accused of trying to steal his car keys; the incident made national news.

Moran has also had personal financial troubles. A former stockbroker, Moran lost roughly $120,000 from trades and bad investments in the mid-1990s and went into significant debt. During their divorce, his second wife accused him in court papers of “wasting the family assets on his stock market gambling.”

Moran was an active trader again in the mid-2000s, with assets owned by his wealthy third wife. After their 2010 separation and eventual divorce, his financial situation changed significantly. His most recent financial disclosure report, covering 2012, shows him to be one of the least wealthy members of Congress, with no assets other than a money-market account worth $15,000 or less.

Moran said Wednesday that he believed he “may be able to accomplish more outside” Congress than inside, when it comes to causes he cares about. He declined to say what he plans to do next, although as a longtime appropriator he could presumably command a large salary in the private sector.

“Ethically, it’s inappropriate and wrong to try and take care of yourself while you’re still serving,” he said.

Jim Moran isn't just from Virginia, he's from Northern Virginia - Fairfax, Alexandria, and Arlington counties. You can literally see the Capitol building from his district. Therefore, unlike most Representatives, he doesn't need a second residence.

And yes, $176,000 is more than enough to live in the DC area - even in DC itself. The cost of housing in DC is about 250% the national average, but the overall cost of living is only about 150%, and $176 grand per year is waaaay above even 250% the national income level.

And if you got into public service for the money, we don't want you there anyway.

And even if you think this, you don't say it out loud. That's political suicide.

Jim Moran isn't just from Virginia, he's from Northern Virginia - Fairfax, Alexandria, and Arlington counties. You can literally see the Capitol building from his district. Therefore, unlike most Representatives, he doesn't need a second residence.

And yes, $176,000 is more than enough to live in the DC area - even in DC itself. The cost of housing in DC is about 250% the national average, but the overall cost of living is only about 150%, and $176 grand per year is waaaay above even 250% the national income level.

And if you got into public service for the money, we don't want you there anyway.

And even if you think this, you don't say it out loud. That's political suicide.

Dolt.

That's because everything in that area is inflated. I worked up there three time this past Feb/March. Funny, how all the govt workers seem to have plenty of money to spend up there. It's one of the best markets for the company I subcontract for. In fact, the whole surrounding area.

That's because everything in that area is inflated. I worked up there three time this past Feb/March. Funny, how all the govt workers seem to have plenty of money to spend up there. It's one of the best markets for the company I subcontract for. In fact, the whole surrounding area.

Its hard to have a bad economy when you get to take or print 3.45 trillion a year.